Tribute to Gilbert Eastman
Gallaudet Plans Trubutes for Gilbert Eastman, ’57
Gilbert Eastman, 72, a professor in the Theatre Arts Department from 1957 to 1992 and professor emeritus of the department, and co-host of the award-winning “Deaf Mosaic” TV series from 1985 to 1995, passed away on Saturday, December 2. He is survived by his wife, June (AAS-’61), two daughters, Alison and Ingrid, four grandchildren: Jessica, Jordan, Daniel, and Emily, and many family, friends, and admirers.
Mr. Eastman, a 1952 graduate of the American School for the Deaf (ASD), West Hartford, Conn., received his bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet in 1957 and went on to earn an MFA in drama from The Catholic University of America. He was associated with the production of more than 50 plays as a writer, actor, stage manager, translator, and director. He authored six plays and several books. He was one of the founding members of the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) and taught in the NTD summer programs. He founded the Department of Drama at Gallaudet, which was subsequently renamed as the Theatre Arts Department. Mr. Eastman received an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Washington, D.C. Chapter, for his work on “Deaf Mosaic” and the Laurent Clerc Award from Gallaudet in 1993. He also received an honorary doctorate degree from Gallaudet in 2002 and was inducted into ASD’s Hall of Fame on October 13, 2006, receiving an award of excellence for leadership, success, and achievements. Mr. Eastman’s papers are available in the Library Archives at http://archives.gallaudet.edu/Eastman68.htm.
Gallaudet will host a memorial service for Mr. Eastman on Friday, April 6, 2007. This date will also kick-off a two-week run of the Theatre Arts Department’s revival of Mr. Eastman’s play, Sign Me Alice, which was first presented by the Gallaudet University Theatre on April 6, 1973.
This month, Gallaudet’s cable TV will show many of the “Deaf Mosaic” and other videos in which Mr. Eastman appears. Academic Technology is also preparing an online video tribute to this great man, which will be posted at http://academictech.gallaudet.edu/tributes. Admirers of Mr. Eastman, both on- and off-campus, can enjoy the first three years of “Deaf Mosaic” online at http://videolibrary.gallaudet.edu. The entire “Deaf Mosaic” series will be online by the end of January. Gallaudet community members can login with their GDOC username and password. Others may register for a free account. If community members have video or photos of Gil Eastman and are willing to share these, please send email to videolibrary@gallaudet.edu with the information.
(Copyright Gallaudet University, 2006)
Gallaudet Plans Trubutes for Gilbert Eastman, ’57
Gilbert Eastman, 72, a professor in the Theatre Arts Department from 1957 to 1992 and professor emeritus of the department, and co-host of the award-winning “Deaf Mosaic” TV series from 1985 to 1995, passed away on Saturday, December 2. He is survived by his wife, June (AAS-’61), two daughters, Alison and Ingrid, four grandchildren: Jessica, Jordan, Daniel, and Emily, and many family, friends, and admirers.
Mr. Eastman, a 1952 graduate of the American School for the Deaf (ASD), West Hartford, Conn., received his bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet in 1957 and went on to earn an MFA in drama from The Catholic University of America. He was associated with the production of more than 50 plays as a writer, actor, stage manager, translator, and director. He authored six plays and several books. He was one of the founding members of the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) and taught in the NTD summer programs. He founded the Department of Drama at Gallaudet, which was subsequently renamed as the Theatre Arts Department. Mr. Eastman received an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Washington, D.C. Chapter, for his work on “Deaf Mosaic” and the Laurent Clerc Award from Gallaudet in 1993. He also received an honorary doctorate degree from Gallaudet in 2002 and was inducted into ASD’s Hall of Fame on October 13, 2006, receiving an award of excellence for leadership, success, and achievements. Mr. Eastman’s papers are available in the Library Archives at http://archives.gallaudet.edu/Eastman68.htm.
Gallaudet will host a memorial service for Mr. Eastman on Friday, April 6, 2007. This date will also kick-off a two-week run of the Theatre Arts Department’s revival of Mr. Eastman’s play, Sign Me Alice, which was first presented by the Gallaudet University Theatre on April 6, 1973.
This month, Gallaudet’s cable TV will show many of the “Deaf Mosaic” and other videos in which Mr. Eastman appears. Academic Technology is also preparing an online video tribute to this great man, which will be posted at http://academictech.gallaudet.edu/tributes. Admirers of Mr. Eastman, both on- and off-campus, can enjoy the first three years of “Deaf Mosaic” online at http://videolibrary.gallaudet.edu. The entire “Deaf Mosaic” series will be online by the end of January. Gallaudet community members can login with their GDOC username and password. Others may register for a free account. If community members have video or photos of Gil Eastman and are willing to share these, please send email to videolibrary@gallaudet.edu with the information.
(Copyright Gallaudet University, 2006)
December 5th, 2006 at 10:37 am
Gil Eastman was a fabulous ASL teacher to deaf and oral students. I was awestruck by his talent of reaching out to us. I took his ASL class in attempt to learn ASL in summer of 1970. I was so used having hearing teachers, but was wondering if Gil was hearing or deaf. I asked my classmates if he is deaf or hearing. They did not know yet, so I waved at him and asked him if he is hearing or deaf. He teased back by talking verbally, “What do you think?” We did not know what to say! He laughed and said that he is deaf. He had a special way of making the class fun and enjoyable. Since that time, I always respected him. It was my very first time having a deaf teacher.
December 5th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Diane, right. I remember seeing Eastman many times at Student Union Building (SUB) and he always has a smile on his face. As a gregarious person, he was always chatting with people. My roommate who majored in Drama always spoke highly of this man.
December 5th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
I wish that Gallaudent can write a special Book of Gil Eastman ‘s story and All deaf peoples all over the world can read and learn about Gil Eastman. Hope you like my idea .
God Bless to all ,
Mary Lou F.
December 5th, 2006 at 6:03 pm
Mary, that is a good idea. Hopefully they’ll do that. He left a big legacy, that’s for sure.
December 5th, 2006 at 8:28 pm
Gil, he is my hero because his ASL made us a better life! We should put his name on the Gallaudet building that reflex Deaf community and Deaf world in someday..
God Bless to Deaf world
Peiris
December 5th, 2006 at 10:11 pm
Gilbert Eastman, he will be missed by all who knew him. I did not know him personally, however, I found him to be fun, dynamic, energetic. I met him a couple of times when I was a student at Gallaudet back in ’86-’88. I tried to sign up for one of his classes. No such luck! There was a class size limit. I envied all he students who had him as their teacher. Should Galludet ever decide to build a “Hall of Statues” in tribute to past teachers and Deaf leaders that ever walked on campus, Gil Eastman definately should be it.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:21 pm
Looking forward to an inspiring and fruitful discussion.
October 11th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Gil Eastman was a wonderful man. I had the privledge of taking 2 of his classes when he was retired and teaching non-credit asl in Delaware. I had taken ASL 1-4 before and when I heard he was teaching in my hometown, I drove over an hour each week to start over at ASL 1 so I could take his class. He was a teacher who not only inspired but entertained. His class was always the highlight of my week.
October 4th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Does anybody out there know about his gesturing classes he taught at Gallaudet? I’m tying to find his syllabus or class notes. I really want to know how he taught this as I’m doing research on him and gesturing. Anyone? Anyone?